Recording method, recording apparatus, reproduction method and reproduction apparatus for recording and reproducing data in which additional information is buried in contents data

ABSTRACT

The present invention aims to enable revision of additional information buried in contents data with less burden on hardware. For this purpose, a predetermined amount of inputted contents data is temporarily stored in buffer means, the additional information buried in the contents data being detected from the contents data temporarily stored in the buffer means, the contents of the detected additional information being estimated, the contents data being made to be recorded in a predetermined medium when estimated that the contents data can be recorded, and the contents data being made not to be recorded in the medium when estimated that the contents data must not be recorded. In addition, when estimated that revision of the additional information is necessary, the relevant part of data stored in the buffer means is revised while it is being stored in the buffer means.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a recording method and a recordingapparatus fit for recording data in which additional information such ascopyright management information is buried in contents data such asdigital audio data, and also relates to a reproducing method and areproducing apparatus fit for reproducing the same data.

BACKGROUND ART

It has heretofore been put into practice to bury copyright managementinformation in contents data such as digital audio data. For example, incase of digital audio data, it has been proposed to bury so-called“Buried-data” in the audio data for executing the copyright management.

Details about the buried-data will be explained later when describingthe embodiment. In short, the additional information other than thecontents data is arranged by making use of several bits, each of whichbelongs to each sector and is the least significant bit of digital datawhose one sample includes, e.g. sixteen bits. To make output sound whenaudio data including the buried-data are reproduced remain the same asoutput sound when the audio data not yet including the buried-data arereproduced, some modifications are usually made on audio data insections other than those including the buried data. In addition, it isdesigned that the buried-data is not arranged in sections where audiodata are mute data.

By burying the buried-data having the copyright management informationin the contents data such as audio data, satisfactory management ofcopyright of those contents can be performed using the buried-data.Because the buried-data buried in the contents data will remain as itis, unless compression processing or the like is performed on thecontents data. Thus, as compared with a case where copyright managementinformation is added as additional information like subcode which isdifferent from audio data itself, it is difficult to alter or remove thecopyright management information, so that the management of copyrightcan be carried out effectively.

Incidentally, when the management of copyright on audio data, etc. iscarried out, there are cases where the modifications of copyrightinformation are required depending on use conditions of its contents.However, when the buried-data is used, hardware within apparatus mustbear a heavy burden to execute processings for the modification. Thisposes a problem.

Specifically, the copyright information in contents data such as audiodata may include information on limiting the number of times of copying.For example, there may be a case where copying of contents is permittedonly once. On such occasion, when reproducing original data and thenrecording the reproduced data in some medium, it is necessary to reviseold buried-data, which is contained in the reproduced original data andindicates that copying is allowed once, to new buried-data indicatingthat no copying is allowed, before recording it in the medium. Toexecute such revision processing, however, it is necessary to extractthe buried-data from the contents data, revise the buried-data that isextracted, and bury the buried-data that is revised in the contentsdata. Because the buried-data is primarily recorded for preventing awrong use, it is designed to make the processing difficult. When somecircuit for the processing is provided in a data recording apparatus orthe like, the structure of apparatus goes complicated accordingly. Thisposes the aforesaid problem.

Additionally, although the problem has been described, which is posedwhen the buried-data is buried in audio data for use, the same problemwill also be raised when processing additional information which isburied in other various contents data.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to enable the revision ofadditional information buried in contents data with less burden on thehardware.

A first invention is a recording method comprising:

a storage step of temporarily storing a predetermined amount of inputtedcontents data in buffer means;

a detection step of detecting the additional information buried in thecontents data from the contents data that is temporarily stored at thestorage step;

an estimation step of estimating contents of the additional informationthat is detected at the detection step; and

a record step of recording the contents data in a predetermined mediumwhen estimated that the contents data can be recorded at the estimationstep, and not recording the contents data in the medium when estimatedthat the contents data must not be recorded.

By arranging in this way, when information on copy-limiting is containedin the additional information buried in the inputted contents data forexample, the recording of the contents data in the medium is restrictedbased on the additional information. By estimating data stored in thebuffer means which temporarily stores data to be recorded, asatisfactory record-restriction processing will be enabled. Thus, acopyright protection processing such as the prevention of wrong copyingcan easily be executed.

A second invention is a recording method according to the firstinvention, further comprising a rewrite step of rewriting additionalinformation stored in the buffer means while the additional informationis being stored, when estimated that the rewriting of the additionalinformation is necessary at the estimation step.

By arranging in this manner, it will be possible to rewrite easily theadditional information such as the copy-limiting information withoutneeding special means to perform the rewriting of additionalinformation.

A third invention is a recording method according to the firstinvention, further comprising a kind identification step of identifyingthe kind of data on the inputted contents data, wherein

only when the contents data are identified as a predetermined format ofdata at the kind identification step, the aforesaid detection step andestimation step are carried out so as to restrict recording the data ina medium.

By doing in this way, only when recording a format of data whoserecording may likely be restricted, the relevant detection andestimation processings need to be executed. When recording anotherformat of data, the detection and estimation of additional informationneed not to be executed. This can make the execution of recordprocessing easier accordingly.

A fourth invention is a recording method according to the thirdinvention, wherein the predetermined format to be identified at the kindidentification step is a format which may probably be audio data.

By doing in this way, the preventive processing against wrong recordingof audio data will effectively function by simple processing.

A fifth invention is a recording method according to the firstinvention, wherein

when the contents data begin to be inputted, if the contents data storedin the buffer means at the storage step reach the predetermined amountof data or more, the detecting operation at the detection step isstarted.

By arranging in this manner, the additional information buriedperiodically in the contents data will certainly be detected. Further,when the additional information is not buried in a front section of thecontents data, the additional information will also be detectedcertainly.

A sixth invention is a recording apparatus comprising:

buffer means for temporarily storing a predetermined amount of inputtedcontents data;

control means for detecting additional information buried in thecontents data from the contents data that are temporarily stored in thebuffer means, for making the contents data to be recorded if contents ofthe detected additional information indicate that the contents data canbe recorded, and for making contents data not to be recorded if contentsof the detected additional information indicate that the contents datamust not be recorded; and

recorder means for recording in a predetermined medium under the controlof the control means.

By constructing in this way, when the additional information buried ininputted contents data contains copy-limiting information for example,processing to restrict recording the contents data in a medium isexecuted based on the additional information. The processing to restrictrecording the contents data will be executed satisfactorily byestimating data to be recorded, which are temporarily stored in thebuffer means. As a result, there can be provided a recording apparatuswhich is capable of performing easily a copyright protection processingsuch as the prevention against wrong copying.

A seventh invention is a recording apparatus according to the sixthinvention, wherein

when the control means estimates that the rewriting of additionalinformation is necessary, the control means controls to rewrite theadditional information stored in the buffer means, while the relevantadditional information is being stored in the buffer means.

By constructing in this manner, it is possible to rewrite the additionalinformation such as copy-limiting information easily without needing anyspecial means to perform the rewriting of additional information.

A eighth invention is a recording apparatus according to the sixthinvention, wherein

the control means identifies the kind of data on the contents datatemporarily stored in the buffer means, and controls to record thecontents data in the medium, only when the contents data are identifiedas a predetermined format of data.

By constructing in this way, only when recording a format of data whoserecoding may likely be restricted, the relevant detection and estimationprocessings need to be executed. When recording another format of data,the detection and estimation of additional information need not to beexecuted. This can make the execution of record processing easieraccordingly.

A ninth invention is a recording apparatus according to the sixthinvention, wherein

after the amount of data stored in the buffer means reaches apredetermined amount of data or over, the control means starts to detectthe additional information.

By constructing in this manner, the additional information buriedperiodically in contents data can be detected certainly. When theadditional information is not buried in a front section of the contentsdata, the additional information can also be detected certainly.

A tenth invention is a reproducing method comprising:

a storage step of temporarily storing a predetermined amount of contentsdata reproduced from a predetermined medium in buffer means;

a detection step of detecting additional information buried in thecontents data from the contents data temporarily stored at the storagestep;

an estimation step of estimating contents of the additional informationdetected at the detection step; and

an output step of outputting outside the contents data temporarilystored in the buffer means when estimated that the contents data can becopied at the estimation step, and not outputting outside the contentsdata temporarily stored in the buffer means when estimated that thecontents data must not be copied.

By doing in this way, for example, when the additional informationburied in the contents data reproduced from the medium includescopy-limiting information, the outputting of contents data is restrictedbased on the additional information. In other words, it is restrictedthat the outputted contents data are recorded in another medium. Thus,an output restriction processing on the reproduced data will be executedsatisfactorily by estimating the data stored in the buffer means thattemporarily stores the reproduced data. This means that a copyrightprotection processing such as the preventive processing against wrongcopying that records the reproduced data in other recording device canbe executed with ease.

An eleventh invention is a reproducing method according to the tenthinvention, further comprising a rewrite step of rewriting the additionalinformation stored in the buffer means while the additional informationis being stored, when estimated that the rewriting of the additionalinformation is necessary at the estimation step.

By arranging in this manner, it will be possible to rewrite easily theadditional information such as copy-limiting information without thenecessity of providing special means to perform the rewriting ofadditional information.

A twelfth invention is a reproducing method, further comprising a kindidentification step of identifying the kind of data on the contents datastored at the storage step, wherein

only when the contents data is identified as a predetermined format ofdata at the kind identification step, the aforesaid detection step andestimation step are carried out so as to restrict outputting thereproduced data.

By arranging in this manner, only when reproducing a format of datawhose outputting may likely be restricted against wrong use, therelevant detection and estimation processings need to be executed. Whenreproducing another format of data, the detection and estimation ofadditional information need not to be executed, whereby the reproductionprocessing can more easily be executed accordingly.

A thirteenth invention is a reproducing method according to the twelfthinvention, wherein the predetermined format to be identified at the kindidentification step is a format indicative of audio data.

By doing in this way, the preventive processing against wrong use ofaudio data will effectively function by simple processing.

A fourteenth invention is a reproducing method according to the twelfthinvention, wherein

when the contents data begin to be reproduced, if the contents datastored in the buffer means at the storage step reach a predeterminedamount of data or over, the detection at the detection step is started.

By arranging in this manner, it will be possible to certainly detect theadditional information buried periodically in the contents data.Further, when the additional information is not buried in a frontsection of the contents data, the additional information can also bedetected certainly.

A fifteenth invention is a reproducing method according to the twelfthinvention, further comprising an indication step of indicating a resultestimated at the estimation step in a predetermined manner.

By arranging in this way, when outputting of data reproduced from themedium is restricted, it will be clear by the indication why theoutputting is restricted.

A sixteenth invention is a reproducing apparatus comprising:

reproduction means for reproducing contents data from a predeterminedmedium;

buffer means for temporarily storing a predetermined amount of thecontents data reproduced by the reproduction means;

output means for making the contents data temporarily stored in thebuffer means to be outputted; and

control means for detecting additional information buried in thecontents data from the contents data temporarily stored in the buffermeans, making the contents data to be outputted from the output means ifthe detected additional information indicates that the contents data canbe copied, and making the contents data not to be outputted from theoutput means if it indicates that the contents data must not be copied.

By constructing in this way, for example, when the additionalinformation buried in the contents data reproduced from the mediumcontains copy-limiting information, outputting of the contents data isrestricted based on the additional information, so that it is restrictedthat the outputted contents data are recorded in another medium. Thus,by estimating data stored in the buffer means that temporarily storesthe reproduced data, the output restriction processing of the reproduceddata will be executed satisfactorily. In consequence, there can beobtained a reproducing apparatus in which copyright protectionprocessing such as the prevention of wrong copying that records thereproduced data in other recording device can be executed with ease.

A seventeenth invention is a reproducing apparatus according to thesixteenth invention, wherein

when the control means estimates that the rewriting of additionalinformation of contents data outputted from the output means isnecessary, the control means controls to rewrite the additionalinformation stored in the buffer means, while the relevant additionalinformation is being stored in the buffer means.

By constructing in this way, it is possible to rewrite the additionalinformation such as copy-limiting information simply without needing anyspecial means to perform the rewriting of additional information.

An eighteenth invention is a reproducing apparatus according to thesixteenth invention, wherein

the control means identifies the kind of data on the contents datatemporarily stored in the buffer means and controls to make the contentsdata not to be outputted from the output means only when the contentsdata are identified as data of a predetermined format.

By constructing in this manner, only when reproducing a format of datawhich may likely be restricted against wrong use, the relevant detectionand estimation processings need to be executed. When reproducing theother format of data, there is no need to execute the detection andestimation of additional information, so that it will be possible tocarry out more simply the reproduction processing accordingly.

A nineteenth invention is a reproducing apparatus according to thesixteenth invention, wherein

after the amount of data stored in the buffer means reaches apredetermined amount of data or over, the control means starts to detectthe additional information.

By constructing in this way, it will be possible to certainly detect theadditional information buried periodically in the contents data.Further, when the additional information is not buried in a frontsection of the contents data, it will also be possible to certainlydetect the additional information.

A twentieth invention is a reproducing apparatus according to thesixteenth invention, further comprising an indication means forindicating contents instructed by the additional information detected bythe control means.

By constructing in this manner, when the outputting of data reproducedfrom the medium is restricted, it will be clear by the indication whythe outputting is restricted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the entire structure of an apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the buried-data arrangementaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing copyright informationarrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing copyright information accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the record processing according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the contents renewal processing ofcopyright information according to an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the reproduction processing according toan embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a disk-drive apparatus 100 in whichprocessings according to the present invention are executed. Thedisk-drive apparatus 100 can reproduce data from a data-recorded diskcalled “CD-ROM” and can record data using a recordable medium called“CD-R” or “CD-RW” (CD-R is a medium in which data can be recorded onlyonce; CD-RW is a medium in which data can be rewritten.). The apparatus100 outputs the reproduced data to some connected equipment (such ascomputer device) and records data inputted from the connected equipment.

In case of the present example, the disk-drive apparatus 100 isconnected to a host computer 200. The reproduced data are supplied tothe host computer 200 and processed there. Data to be recorded are alsosupplied from the host computer 200. The reproduction and recording arecarried out based on instructions from the host computer 200.

Describing the internal structure of the disk-drive apparatus 100, adisk 101 mounted on the drive apparatus 100 is driven to rotate by aspindle motor 111 mounted on a base unit 110. Laser beams are applied toa signal-recording surface of the disk 101 from a laser driver 121within an optical pickup 120 through a beam splitter 123 and lens 124.When data are recorded on the disk 101, power of the applied laser beamsis set at a relatively strong power for recording use. When datarecorded on the disk 101 are read out, the power of laser beams appliedto the disk is set at a relatively weak power for reproduction use.Return beams reflected at the signal-recorded surface of disk 101 arriveat a detector 122 and are detected therein. Additionally, the detector122 is designed to detect the beams by dividing them into pluralpositions. A radial position of the optical pickup 120 relative to thedisk 101 is determined by driving a forwarding motor (sled motor) 112mounted on a base unit 110. The optical pickup 120 includes a focusingcoil or a tracking coil (not shown) for making focalization or trackingadjustment of laser beams. Those coils are controlled by a focusingcontrol signal or a tracking control signal supplied from afocusing/tracking/slide servo unit 133 within a servo block 130. Theforwarding motor 112 is also driven and controlled by aslide-motor-drive signal from the focusing/tracking/slide servo unit133. The spindle motor 111 is driven and controlled by a spindle-drivesignal from a spindle servo unit 131 within the servo block 130.

The signal detected by the detector 122 within the optical pickup 120 issupplied to a sample/hold and matrix amp circuit 143 within a RFprocessing block 140, where the detected signal is sampled withpredetermined timing and amplified. The resulting signal is supplied toa RF signal processor circuit 144 which produces a reproduced RF signal.A sampling rate at the circuit 143 depends on a sampling pulse suppliedfrom a timing generator 151 within a digital processor block 150. Thesample/hold and matrix amp circuit 143 executes operational processingsof addition, subtraction, etc. of outputs from the detector 122 atpredetermined positions to form error components such as a trackingerror signal and focusing error signal. The error components aresupplied to a servo processor 132 within the servo block 130 and then aservo control signal is produced by the servo unit 133.

The reproduced RF signal outputted by the RF signal processor circuit144 is supplied to an analog/digital converter and digital processorcircuit 153 within the digital processing block 150. The circuit 153converts the signal into the digital form and processes the digitaldata. The processed data are supplied to a decode/encode block 160 whichdecodes the data for reproduction to generate reproduced data. Thedecode/encode block 160 includes a CD-ROM encoder/decoder 161 and an EFM& CIRC encoder/decoder 162. The EFM & CIRC encoder/decoder 162 performs,in reproduction, decoding for EFM (Eight-to-Fourteen Modulation)prescribed by CD format, correction processing using CIRC (CrossInterleave Reed-Solomon Code) and the like. The CD-ROM encoder/decoder161 decodes from CD-ROM format.

On this occasion, a buffer memory 163 for storing data temporarily isconnected to the decode/encode block 160. The buffer memory 163 cantemporarily store undecoded data or decoded data up to a storagecapacity of the buffer memory. The amount of data that the buffer memory163 can store is set at a comparatively large amount of data. Forexample, in case of audio data, the storage capacity of the buffermemory is set so that it can store audio data at least for severaldecade seconds. Additionally, it is arranged in this embodiment thatpart of data stored in the buffer memory 163 can be revised (rewritten)under the control of a controller 171 described later. The rewriteprocessing executed using the buffer memory 163 will be described later.

The reproduced data decoded by the decode/encode block 160 are outputtedoutside through an external interface 173. In this embodiment, the dataare transmitted to the host computer 200 connected to the disk-driveapparatus 100.

When data are recorded on the disk by the disk-drive apparatus 100, datainputted, for example, from the host computer 200 to the externalinterface 173 are encoded into CD-ROM format by the CD-ROMencoder/decoder 161 within the decode/encode block 160. The EFM & CIRCencoder/decoder 162 performs encoding for EFM (Eight-to-FourteenModulation) prescribed by CD format, additional processing of CIRC(Cross Interleave Reed-Solomon Code) and the like.

The data to be recorded, which are encoded by the decode/encode block160, so-called EFM data are supplied to an EFM equalizer 152 within thedigital processing block 150. The EFM equalizer 152 performs anequalization processing on the data for operating the laser driver 121.A laser output of the laser driver 121 within the optical pickup 120 iscontrolled based on the equalized data to be recorded. The timinggenerator 151 within the digital processing block 150 generates a timingpulse in synchronism with the process timing of the decode/encode block160. The generated timing pulse is supplied to an automatic powercontrol (APC) circuit 141 which controls timing of level control of alaser-drive signal supplied from a digital/analog converter 142. Thelaser-drive signal adjusted in level by the APC circuit 141 is suppliedto the laser driver 121 and data are recorded on the signal-recordingsurface of the disk 101 by laser beams applied to the disk 101.

In addition, when the mounted disk 101 has address information, etc.recorded on the track as “track wobbling”, an ATIP demodulator 172 whichreceives an output of the sample/hold and matrix amp circuit 143demodulates the data recorded by the wobbling and then supplies thatdata to the controller 171. The data demodulated by the ATIP demodulator172 are also supplied to the servo block 130 for use of servo control.

The processings in each circuit for reproduction and recording whichhave been described so far are executed under the control of thecontroller 171. As to processing of the buried-data described later, itis arranged that the controller estimates the data processed in eachblock to execute an appropriate control processing based on theburied-data.

Next, processing operations when recording data on a disk or reproducingdata recorded on the disk using the disk-drive apparatus 100 of thisembodiment will be described. The description is herein centered onprocessing associated with the buried-data contained in the data.

First of all, it will be described what kind of data the buried-data is:As already described in the background art column, it has heretoforebeen put into practice to bury copyright management information invarious contents data such as digital audio data. In case of digitalaudio data, it has been proposed to bury the buried-data in actual audiodata for executing the copyright management. General record processingof copyright management information, which has been practiced from thepast, is such that the data are recorded using subcode, etc. incident tothe contents data (audio data), whereas the buried-data is directlyburied in part of real audio data as copyright management informationand the like. Thus, the buried-data will remain as it is, unlesscompression processing or the like is performed on the data, so that theburied-data will effectively function as the copyright managementinformation. Moreover, it is designed to select section, etc. in whichthe buried-data is to be buried so that the existence of the buried-datamay make no substantial effect on reproduced sound when audio datahaving the buried-data are reproduced.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of the buried-data.An upper part of FIG. 2 shows the structure of audio data. In thisfigure, digital audio data are comprised of samples each of whichincludes sixteen bits. The data of samples each having sixteen bits fora predetermined period of time are collected into one super frame. Inthe upper part of FIG. 2, there are shown a super frame i and a superframe j subsequent to the super frame i. Each sample data of sixteenbits shows a sample value of a waveform corresponding to transmittedaudio signal. One super frame is divided into ninety-six sectors, as isshown in a middle part of FIG. 2. A lower part of FIG. 2 shows anenlarged example of data in one sector. The buried-data is assigned ordistributed to the least significant bits (LSB) of a predeterminednumber of sample data from the head of each sector. However, as in caseof sector [j+3] shown in FIG. 2, when a sector has audio data which aremute (or nearly mute) in level, when a null least significant bitcontinues in that sector for example, no buried-data shall bedistributed to that sector. Moreover, when distributing the buried-datato each sector, audio data may be revised to some extent so thatreproduced audio data may not alter from the original audio owing to theburied-data distribution. The buried-data in this example, however, usesonly part of the least significant bits in each sector and so almost nochange will occur in the reproduced sound without performing the audiodata revision.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of buried-data in more detail. Theburied-data is distributed to the least significant bits in each sectorof audio data track having sixteen bits per sample, shown in an upperpart of FIG. 3. The buried-data may include offset data or may includecopyright information. Further, a mute section like the sector [j+3] hasno buried-data (empty).

The copyright information is assigned to only one sector in onesuperframe. To other sectors within one superframe are basicallyassigned the offset data as the buried-data. The offset data indicatethe number of sectors up to the position of a sector where the nextcopyright information is assigned. Therefore, if the offset data can bedetected at least once during one superframe period of time, it ispossible to measure the position where the copyright information isassigned, so that the copyright information can be detected withoutfail.

As shown in a lower part of FIG. 3, the buried-data including the offsetdata also includes beside the offset data a synchronizing word, a cyclicredundancy code (CRC) being error detection code and so forth.

As shown in a lower part of FIG. 3, the buried-data including thecopyright information also includes a synchronization word, an extensiontag of one bit, CRC and so forth beside the copyright information beingthe copyright management information. The cyclic redundancy code isprovided for all data in each buried-data.

FIG. 4 shows a structure example of the copyright information which isassigned to one buried-data. In this example, there are included fourkinds of information, i.e. copy/original information, medium-typeinformation, copy-limitation yes/no information, and copy-controlinformation. The copy/original information indicates whether or notaudio data including the buried-data is original data or copied datafrom some medium and the like. The medium-type information indicates thetype of a medium in which audio data including the buried-data isrecorded. The copy-limitation yes/no information indicates whether ornot there is any limitation on copying audio data in which theburied-data is buried. The copy-control information indicates the numberof times that audio data including the buried-data can be copied (thenumber of times that the audio data can be recorded in a medium).

The copy-control information indicates, for example, that copying can bemade null time (namely, copying is inhibited.) or that copying can bemade only once or that copying can be made unlimitedly or the like.

When the disk-drive apparatus 100 of this embodiment records datainputted from the host computer 200 on the disk 101, the controller 171controls to store data to be recorded in the buffer memory 163 and toestimate the buried-data constructed as described above from the storeddata. Therefore, it can be decided whether the recording is permitted ornot. Moreover, the buried-data can be revised if necessary.

In addition, the data which are handled by the disk-drive apparatus 100of this embodiment (namely, data which are recorded and reproduced) mayinclude audio data in which no buried-data is buried other than theaudio data in which the buried data is buried. Basically, no buried-datais buried in data other than audio data. It is possible, however, tobury the buried-data (or other similar data for copyright management) invarious contents data other than audio data such as video data.

Furthermore, the buried-data is basically buried in almost all sectionfrom the head of audio data through to the end thereof. However, forexample, the buried-data may be arranged only in partial section of amusical piece in such processing that the part is replaced by the otheraudio data due to partial edit processing.

Next, record processing by the disk-drive apparatus 100 of thisembodiment will be described with processing of the buried-data beingcentered. A flow chart of FIG. 5 shows an example of processingassociated with copyright information in recording executed under thecontrol of the controller 171. The processing will be described below.When data are first inputted from the host computer 200 through theexternal interface 173, the inputted data are stored in the buffermemory 163 by the amount of data which is equal to the amount of datacorresponding to one sector plus the amount of data corresponding toinitial data (step S11).

In this case, the amount of data corresponding to initial data isdetermined to be the amount of data, for example, which the buffermemory 163 can store with comparative allowance and which corresponds toaudio data at least for ten and several seconds. The reason why theinitial data are stored is as follows. In general, audio data have amute section in the front and as already described, no buried-data isarranged in the mute section. Therefore, it takes a certain time toreach the buried-data from the front of audio data.

When the predetermined amount of inputted data has been stored in thebuffer memory 163, the controller 171 detects the data stored in thebuffer memory 163 and estimates whether or not the offset data can bedetected from the stored data (step S12).

At this moment, the amount of inputted data is first estimated from thesubcode or the like incidental to the inputted data as to whether or notthe format is indicative of the possibility of audio data including theburied-data. When it is estimated that there are inputted data of formatindicative of no possibility of audio data having the buried-data, thefollowing estimation processing is not executed and the inputted dataare processed to be recorded as they are. Specifically, for example,when a data-block type of the inputted data is indicated as raw data, itis estimated that audio data without the compression processing or thelike will most likely be transmitted and the audio data will probablyinclude the buried-data descried above. When the other data-block typeis indicated, the following record restriction processing according tothe flow chart is made not to be executed.

When it is estimated that the format of inputted data indicates that theburied-data is probably included in audio data, an actual processing todetect the offset data from the inputted data is executed. If the offsetdata are detected as the result of the estimation, the buried positionof the copyright information which is indicated by the offset data isestimated. Then, it is estimated whether or not the copyrightinformation can be detected from the corresponding data in stored datain the buffer memory 163 (step S13). When no copyright information canbe detected by this processing, the processing is repeated until thecopyright information is detected. If the copyright information has beendetected, content of the copyright information is checked (step S14). Inchecking the contents, it is estimated by the copy-limitation yes/noinformation (see FIG. 4) included in the copyright information whetherthe copying is limited or not (step S15).

When it is estimated in this step that there is no copy-limitation, thecontroller 171 starts processing to record data stored in the buffermemory 163 on the disk 101 installed in the disk-drive apparatus 100.Thus, the data are recorded on the disk 101 (step S16). Even after thedata recording has been started, each time new data for a fixed timeperiod are buffered in the buffer memory 163, the processing returns tothe step S12 for detecting the offset data regularly.

When it is detected at the step S15 that there is the copy-limitation,the number of times of copying permitted is estimated (step S18) fromthe copy-control information (see FIG. 4) in the copyright information.In this example, since there is the copy-limitation that the copying ispermitted only once, it is estimated whether the number of times ofcopying permitted is once or not. If the number of times of copyingpermitted is estimated not to be once (namely, the number of times ofcopying permitted is null time), the controller 171 controls to stoprecording at that time for inhibiting the apparatus from recording theinputted data on the disk 101 (step S19). Moreover, after the recordinghas already been started, if the copy-control information indicative ofnull time as the number of times of copying permitted is detected atthis step, then the recording at that time is also stopped.

Furthermore, when it is estimated that the number of times of copyingpermitted is once at the step S18, a renewal processing to rewritecontents of the buried-data including the copyright information, whichis contained in data stored in the buffer memory 163, is executed (stepS20). The renewal processing in this case is to revise contents so thatthe copyright information may be indicative of null time as the numberof times of copying permitted. The revision processing will be describedlater in detail.

In this way, data stored in the buffer memory 163 are rewritten andcopyright information is revised thereby. The thus revised data are readout of the buffer memory 163 and the record processing is executed underthe control of the controller 171 to record the data on the disk 101(step S21).

Moreover, when the offset data cannot be detected at the step S12 fromthe certain amount of data which is stored in the buffer memory 163, itis also estimated that the data does not include the buried-data. Then,the processing moves to the step S16 for starting the record processingof inputted data. However, if the copyright information is detected byprocessings at the steps S12 and S13 from the buffered data at the laterstep S17, the recording will be stopped when the step S19 is reachedbased on conditions of the detection at that time.

Next, the revision processing of copyright information at the step S20in the flow chart of FIG. 5 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 6. As already has described, the revision processing ofcopyright information is executed by rewriting data stored in the buffermemory 163 under the control of the controller 171, so that thecontroller 171 estimates and processes first on data to be rewritten.Specifically, when the copy/original information shown in FIG. 4 isoriginal information, it is changed to copy (step S31). Further, thecopy-control information is changed from once to null time in the numberof times that copying is permitted (step S32). After having processed sofar, the controller 171 calculates the cyclic redundancy code (CRC) fornew copyright information having the revised copy/original informationand the revised copy-control information (step S33).

Having processed heretofore, the controller 171 actually makes theapparatus rewrite data for which the controller 171 estimates thatrewriting is necessary. To be specific, the controller 171 makes theapparatus rewrite the relevant buried-data stored in the buffer memory163 to the buried-data of a new data structure which is estimated by thecontroller 171 (step S34). This rewriting is continued as long as audiodata of music (track) at that time continue to be inputted and recorded.However, if the inputted data have not included the buried-data, therewrite processing is then suspended (the recording is continued.).

Additionally, in order to bury precisely the buried-data in audio data,it is necessary to somewhat modify the audio data so that theburied-data buried at that time may make no effect on reproduced soundof the audio data. In case of this example, only a few bits within theburied-data buried in each sector are modified and so it is difficultfor a listener to catch a change of reproduced sound due to themodification. Therefore, no modification of audio data is carried out.However, when the controller 171, etc. can calculate to modify audiodata, the modification of audio data accompanying the revision of theburied-data can be carried out.

By recording audio data whose buried-data has thus been revised on thedisk 101 mounted on the disk-drive apparatus 100, when reproducing therecorded data from the disk 101, the buried-data included in thereproduced data serves as data indicating correct copy-limitation,thereby allowing the copyright management processing by the copyrightinformation to be executed correctly. In case of this example, whiledata to be recorded are stored in the buffer memory 163 which thedisk-drive apparatus 100 comprises for processing data, the buried-datais detected by estimating the stored data and the buried-data is revisedby rewriting while it is stored in the buffer memory 163. As a result,there is no need for special circuits to estimate the buried-data andperform the rewriting, thus enabling the structure and operation of thedisk-drive apparatus to be made simpler accordingly.

Moreover, because the buried-data is processed under the control of thecontroller 171 without the necessity for providing exclusive circuits toprocess the buried-data, when the format, etc. of the buried-data ischanged for example, it is possible to cope therewith only by revisingcontrol data through the controller 171. Thus, it is possible to copeeasily with the change of format.

In addition, although it has been described so far that the buried-datais revised in recording, the disk-drive apparatus 100 can detect andrevise the buried-data as well, when reproducing data from the disk 101mounted thereon. A flow chart of FIG. 7 shows a control example by thecontroller 171 when the buried-data is revised in reproduction. Anexample of processing in reproduction will now be described below withreference to the flow chart. To start with, data recorded on the disk101 are reproduced (step S41). The reproduced data supplied to thedecode/encode block 160 are made to be stored in the buffer memory 163up to a necessary amount of data (step S42). At this moment, in the sameway as in the record processing shown in the flow chart of FIG. 5, theinitial data which are required for estimation of the buried-data plusdata for one sector are made to be stored in the buffer memory 163.

When the predefined amount of reproduced data has been stored in thebuffer memory 163, the controller 171 detects the data stored in thebuffer memory 163 and estimates whether or not the offset data can bedetected from the stored data (step S43).

At this time, the format of reproduced data is estimated first fromsubcode, etc. incidental to the reproduced data. In other words, it isestimated whether or not the format indicates that the audio dataprobably include the buried-data. When it is estimated that the formatof inputted data does not indicate that the audio data probably includethe buried-data, the subsequent estimation processings are not executedand the reproduced data stored in the buffer memory 163 are processed bythe decode/encode block 160 before outputted from the external interface173 to the outside (In the example of FIG. 1, the host computer 200).Specifically, for example, when a data-block type of the reproduced datais indicated as raw data, it is estimated that the audio data probablyhave the buried-data. When the other data-block type is indicated, thesubsequent record restriction processing according to the flow chart ismade not to be executed.

Then, when it is estimated that the format of reproduced data indicatesthat the buried-data is probably included in the audio data, theprocessing to detect the offset data from the reproduced data isactually executed. If the offset data are detected as the result of thatestimation, the buried position of the copyright information indicatedby the offset data is estimated. Then, it is estimated whether or notthe copyright information can be detected from the corresponding data ofstored data in the buffer memory 163 (step S44). When no copyrightinformation can be detected by this processing, the processing isrepeated until the copyright information is detected. If the copyrightinformation has been detected, content of the copyright information ischecked (step S45). In checking the contents, it is estimated from thecopy-limitation yes/no information (see FIG. 4) included in thecopyright information whether the copying is limited or not (step S46).

When it is estimated at this step that there is no copy-limitation, thereproduced data stored in the buffer memory 163 are processed by thedecode/encode block 160 before outputted from the external interface 173to the outside (In the example of FIG. 1, the host computer 200) (stepS47). Even after the outputting of reproduced data has been started,each time new data for a fixed time period are buffered in the buffermemory 163, the processing returns to the step S43 for detecting theoffset data regularly.

When it is detected at the step S46 that there is the copy-limitation,the number of times of copying to be permitted is estimated (step S49)from the copy-control information (see FIG. 4) in the copyrightinformation. In case of this example, there is the copy-limitation andthe copying is permitted only once, so that it is estimated whether thenumber of times of copying permitted is once or not. If the number oftimes of copying permitted is estimated not to be once (that is, thenumber of times of copying permitted is null time), the controller 171controls to stop reproducing at that time, thus making the data storedin the buffer memory 163 not to be outputted from the external interface173 to the outside of the disk-drive apparatus 100 (step S50). Moreover,after the outputting of reproduced data has already been started, if thecopy-control information indicative of null time as the number of timesof copying permitted is detected at this step, then the reproduction atthat time is also stopped.

Further, when it is estimated at the step S49 that the copying ispermitted once, a renewal processing which rewrites contents of theburied-data including the copyright information, which is contained indata stored in the buffer memory 163, is executed (step S51). Therenewal processing in this case is to revise the contents so that thecopyright information may be indicative of null time as the number oftimes of copying permitted. The revision processing is the sameprocessing as in the recording which has already been described withreference to the flow chart of FIG. 6.

In this way, data stored in the buffer memory 163 are rewritten and thecopyright information is revised thereby. The thus revised data are readout of the buffer memory 163 and processed by the decode/encode block160 if necessary under the control of the controller 171 beforeoutputted from the external interface 173 to the outside (host computer200). Thereafter, the reproduction from the disk and the outputting ofreproduced data are continued (step S52). However, after the outputtingof reproduced data has been started at the step S52, the processing isreturned to the step S44 for estimating at any time if the copyrightinformation is processed appropriately. When it is estimated at the stepS49 that the copying is not permitted, the outputting of reproduced datais stopped.

Furthermore, when no offset data can be detected at the step S43 from acertain amount of data stored in the buffer memory 163, the data areestimated as including no buried-data and the processing is moved to thestep S47 for making the output processing of reproduced data to bestarted. However, if the copyright information is detected byprocessings at the steps S43 and S44 from data buffered at the laterstep S48, the outputting of reproduced data is then stopped when thestep S50 is reached on detected conditions at that time.

By processing in this manner during reproduction, it is also possible toprevent effectively wrong copying, etc. of data reproduced from a diskbased on the copyright management information buried in data recorded onthe disk. In this case, similarly to processings in the recording, allneeded for execution are the estimation of data stored in the buffermemory 163 by the controller 171 and the rewriting of data stored in thebuffer memory 163. Therefore, there is no need for special circuitswhich process to detect and rewrite the buried-data, thereby enablingthe buried-data management in reproduction to be performed with simplerstructure and processing accordingly.

Additionally, in the description referring to the flow chart of FIG. 7,it is simply controlled whether the outputting of reproduced data isrestricted or not. However, depending on conditions of the reproduceddata being outputted at that time, the processing based on the flowchart of FIG. 7 can be executed. For example, when the disk-driveapparatus 100 is connected to an equipment such as the host computer200, as shown in FIG. 1, in which the reproduced data will most likelybe recorded in digital form as they are, the outputting of reproduceddata to the connected equipment can be restricted as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7. At the same time, for example, when the reproducedaudio data are converted into analog form and outputted as an analogaudio signal, it is possible not to restrict outputting from the outputterminal no matter what kind of buried-data is detected.

Moreover, although the controller 171 in the disk-drive apparatus 100estimates for restricting the recording and reproduction in theabove-mentioned embodiment, the disk-drive apparatus 100 can performrecording data supplied from the host computer 200 on the disk 101 andoutputting data reproduced from the disk 101 to the host computer 200based on instructions from the host computer 200, while a control meansin the host computer 200 estimates similarly the buried-data in data tobe recorded or in reproduced data stored in a memory functioning as abuffer memory within the host computer 200, for causing the hostcomputer 200 to restrict the recording and to restrict the outputting ofreproduced data.

Furthermore, although the predetermined amount of initial data is firststored in the buffer memory to detect the buried-data from inputted data(or reproduced data) in the above-mentioned embodiment, if the inputteddata are audio data for example, it is possible to make the controllerestimate a signal level of the audio data and buffer the inputted datain the buffer memory as the initial data until the signal level of audiodata reaches a certain level that the buried-data is certainly included.

In addition, although the detection and rewriting of data are performedusing the buffer memory 163 connected to the decode/encode block 160 inthe aforementioned embodiment, the detection and rewriting of data canbe performed using the other buffer memory included in a circuit of therecording system or reproducing system.

Although the record processing and reproduction processing based on theburied-data buried in audio data have been described with theabove-described embodiment, it is of course possible to detect datawhich are directly buried in other various contents data to controlrecording in various media or reproducing from those media.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the recording method and recording apparatus of the presentinvention, for example, when copy-limiting information is included inadditional information buried in inputted contents data, processing torestrict recording the contents data in a medium is executed based onthe additional information, in which data stored in the buffer meansthat temporarily stores data to be recorded are estimated. Therefore, asatisfactory processing to restrict recording will be executed and acopyright protection processing such as prevention of wrong copying caneasily be accomplished.

Moreover, according to the reproducing method and reproducing apparatusof the present invention, for example, when copy-limiting information isincluded in additional information buried in contents data reproducedfrom a medium, processing to restrict outputting the contents data isexecuted based on the additional information, that is, the outputtedcontents data are restricted from being recorded in the other medium. Byestimating data stored in the buffer means temporarily storingreproduced data, a satisfactory processing to restrict outputting thereproduced data will be executed, so that a copyright protectionprocessing such as prevention of wrong copying in which the reproduceddata are recorded by the other recording apparatus can easily beattained.

1. A recording method comprising: a storage step of making buffer meansstore temporarily a predetermined amount of inputted contents data; akind identification step of identifying the kind of data on said imputedcontents data; a detection step of detecting additional informationburied in said contents data from said contents data temporarily storedin said storage step; an estimation step of estimating contents of saidadditional information detected in said detection step; and a recordingstep of recording said contents data in a predetermined medium whenestimated that said contents data can be recorded in said estimationstep and of stopping recording said contents data in the medium whenestimated that said contents data must not be recorded in saidestimation steps, wherein only when said contents data are identified asdata of a predetermined format in said kind identification step, saiddetection step and estimation step are executed for restricting therecording in the medium.
 2. The recording method according to claim 1,further comprising a rewriting step of rewriting said additionalinformation stored in said buffer means while said additionalinformation is being stored in said buffer means, when estimated in saidestimation step that it is necessary to rewrite said additionalinformation.
 3. The recording method according to claim 1, wherein saidpredetermined format to be identified in said kind identification stepis a format indicative of audio data.
 4. The recording method accordingto claim 1, wherein when said contents data start to be inputted, if apredetermined amount or more of said contents data has been stored insaid buffer means in said storage step, detection in said detection stepis started.
 5. A recording apparatus comprising: buffer means forstoring temporarily a predetermined amount of inputted contents data;control means for detecting additional information buried in saidcontents data from said contents data temporarily stored in said buffermeans, for making said contents data to be recorded when contents of thedetected additional information indicate that said contents data can berecorded, and for stopping said contents data from being recorded whensaid contents indicate that said contents data must not be recorded; andrecorder means for recording said contents data in a predeterminedmedium under the control of said control means, wherein said controlmeans identifies the kind of data on said contents data temporarilystored in said buffer means, and controls to permit said contents datato be recorded in said medium or to inhibit said contents data frombeing recorded only when the kind of data identified is indicative of apredetermined format of data.
 6. The recording apparatus according toclaim 5, wherein said control means, when estimating that saidadditional information must be rewritten, controls to rewrite saidadditional information stored in said buffer means while said additionalinformation is being stored in said buffer means.
 7. The recordingapparatus according to claim 5, wherein after said buffer means hasstored a predetermined amount of data or over, said control means startsdetecting said additional information.
 8. A reproducing methodcomprising: a storage step of making buffer means store temporarily apredetermined amount of contents data reproduced from a predeterminedmedium; a kind identification step of identifying the kind of data onsaid contents data stored in said storage step; a detection step ofdetecting additional information buried in said contents data from saidcontents data temporarily stored in said storage step; an estimationstep of estimating contents of said additional information detected insaid detection step; and an outputting step of outputting said contentsdata temporarily stored in said buffer means to the outside, whenestimated that said contents data can be copied in said estimation step,and of not outputting said contents data temporarily stored in saidbuffer means to the outside, when estimated that said contents data mustnot be copied, wherein only when said contents data are identified asdata of a predetermined format in said kind identification step, saiddetection step and estimation step are executed for restricting theoutputting of reproduced data.
 9. The reproducing method according toclaim 8, further comprising a rewriting step of rewriting saidadditional information stored in said buffer means while said additionalinformation is being stored in said buffer means, when estimated in saidestimation step that it is necessary to rewrite said additionalinformation.
 10. The reproducing method according to claim 8, whereinsaid predetermined format to be identified in said identification stepis a format indicative of audio data.
 11. The reproducing methodaccording to claim 8, wherein when said contents data start to bereproduced, if a predetermined amount or more of said contents data hasbeen stored in said buffer means in said storage step, detection in saiddetection step is started.
 12. The reproducing method according to claim8, further comprising an indication step of indicating a resultestimated in said estimation step in a predetermined manner.
 13. Areproducing apparatus comprising: reproduction means for reproducingcontents data from a predetermined medium; buffer means for storingtemporarily a predetermined amount of said contents data reproduced bysaid reproduction means; output means for outputting said contents datatemporarily stored in said buffer means; and control means for detectingadditional information buried in said contents data from said contentsdata temporarily stored in said buffer means, for making said contentsdata outputted from said output means when the detected additionalinformation indicates that said contents data can be copied, and formaking said contents data not outputted from said output means when itis indicated that said contents data must not be copied, wherein saidcontrol means identifies the kind of data on said contents datatemporarily stored in said buffer means, and controls to make saidcontents data not outputted from said output means only when saidcontents data are identified as data of a predetermined format.
 14. Thereproducing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said control means,when estimating that said additional information of said contents dataoutputted from said output means must be rewritten, controls to rewritesaid additional information stored in said buffer means while saidadditional information is being stored in said buffer means.
 15. Thereproducing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein after said buffermeans has stored a predetermined amount of data or more, said controlmeans starts detecting said additional information.
 16. The reproducingapparatus according to claim 13, further comprising indication means forindicating contents instructed by said additional information detectedby said control means.